Media Communication 2nd Ed.

Description
This lively and supportive textbook introduces students to the role, practice and influence of the mass media in contemporary society. Emphasizing the social, cultural, political and economic contexts in which the media operate, it provides a clear conceptual framework for understanding the process of media communication and looks at a range of key issues, from news production, to media control and audience reception. This welcome new edition has been thoroughly updated to include substantial new material on the Internet and a more sustained engagement with debates about globalization.

Contents
Introduction: Studying the Media
Setting the Scene: Media in Context
The Language of Study
The Audience for Media: Perspectives on Use and Response
Media in Society: Purpose and Performance
The News: Gates, Agendas and Values
Narrative: the Media as Storytellers
The Practice of Media: Pressures and Constraints
The Global Arena: Issues of Dominance and Control
Network Communication: Interactivity, Surveillance and Virtual Reality
Research as Exploration and Development
In Summary: Media in a New Century
Concluding Remarks
Appendix 1: A Brief ABC of Perceived Effects
Appendix 2: Screen Violence as Influence and Commodity: An Ongoing Debate
Notes
Glossary
Index